Injured Hurkacz withdraws from Wimbledon
June 27 (Reuters) - Poland's Hubert Hurkacz has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after failing to recover from surgery, the former world number six said on Friday.
Hurkacz has not played since he withdrew from the Libema Open earlier this month due to a lower back injury, with the tournament's fifth seed forced to take two medical timeouts in a first-round victory before he withdrew.
Hurkacz also underwent meniscus surgery on his right knee after retiring from his second-round match at Wimbledon last year, where he was the seventh seed, forcing him to skip the Olympics as well.
"Together with my team, I've made the decision to withdraw from this year's Wimbledon," Hurkacz said in a statement.
"During preparations, my body reacted – synovial membrane irritation – which is part of the recovery process from my surgery. It needs rest and treatment, and I need to listen to my body."
The Wimbledon draw was made earlier on Friday and Hurkacz was set to play Briton Billy Harris in the first round of the grasscourt Grand Slam, which begins on Monday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
29 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Evan Minto: Wales can cause upsets at U20 World Championship
The Welsh youngsters get their campaign under way against Argentina tomorrow (kick-off 7.30pm) and all five Rodney Parade prospects feature in Verona. New signing Harry Beddall captains the side from openside and is joined in the back row by Minto, Nick Thomas starts at lock and Harri Ford pulls the strings from fly-half, with tighthead Owain James on the bench. Abercarn's Jack Woods and Abergavenny-born Aidan Boschoff, both former Monmouth School pupils and now with Bath and Bristol respectively, line up at full-back and wing. Towering Thomas, who made three senior Dragons appearances last season, makes a first start since suffering a serious ankle injury against France in February. 'Nick has worked hard to get back from the injury he had in Six Nations,' said head coach Richard Whiffin, who brought the lock off the bench in the warm-up win against Italy. 'He offers a level of experience in the second row against what we know is going to be a formidable Argentina pack.' Wales face the young Pumas and then take on group favourites France on Friday before a clash with Spain. Whiffin's side head into the tournament buoyed by their Six Nations displays when they edged out Italy, stunned Ireland at Rodney Parade and then denied England a Grand Slam and the title with a remarkable performance at Cardiff Arms Park. INFLUENTIAL: Evan Minto on the charge for Wales U20s (Image: Mark Lewis/Huw Evans Agency) Minto, a firm fixture in the XV, believes their togetherness will be key in a tournament that will stretch the squad with five games in 20 days. 'We are just a side that works really hard for each other and we know that, on our day, we can put in a performance to beat anyone,' he said. 'We are a group that works hard for each other and doesn't give up and the atmosphere in the camp is really good. We have a laugh together but also know when to switch on. 'I don't think that spirit is something that can be coached into a team and it's almost that we clicked as soon as we came together. 'There are no cliques, we are willing to work hard for the player next to us and we help each other even when competition is strong for places.' Minto will lead the charge for Wales at the end of a hectic season. The 19-year-old from Griffithstown made three senior Dragons cameos and featured for the development side, played for Pontypool in Super Rugby Cymru, Hartpury in the English Championship plus started all five Six Nations games and the two warm-up fixtures. 'It's been a long season but really enjoyable,' he said. 'I have been playing for a full year but I've had a smile on my face no matter who I've been playing for or what the opposition is. I've learnt so much and that is what keeps driving me on.' Wales U20: Jack Woods (Bath, 2 caps); Elijah Evans (Cardiff, 7 caps), Osian Roberts (Sale, 3 caps), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff, 10 caps), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol, 11 caps); Harri Ford (Dragons, 14 caps), Sion Davies (Cardiff, 4 caps); Ioan Emanuel (Bath, 8 caps), Harry Thomas (Scarlets, 15 caps), Sam Scott (Bristol, 15 caps), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol, 5 caps), Nick Thomas (Dragons, 11 caps), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester, 4 caps), Harry Beddall (captain, Dragons, 11 caps), Evan Minto (Dragons, 5 caps). Replacements: Saul Hurley (Aberavon, 2 caps), Louie Trevett (Bristol, 5 caps), Owain James (Dragons, 3 caps), Dan Gemine (Ospreys, 4 caps), Caio James (Gloucester, 3 caps), Ellis Lewis (Neath, uncapped), Harri Wilde (Cardiff, 17 caps), Tom Bowen (Cardiff, 5 caps).
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Five men to watch out for at Wimbledon
Wimbledon 2025Dates: 30 June-13 July Venue: All England ClubCoverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full coverage details. Carlos Alcaraz will begin his bid for a third Wimbledon title in a row when the Grand Slam begins on question is - can anyone stop him?The Spanish world number two defeated seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in the previous two men's finals on Centre Court at 22-year-old could follow Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Djokovic as only the fifth man in the Open era to win three straight Wimbledon his epic French Open final triumph over world number one Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz clinched the Queen's title to start his grass-court season on a Jack Draper leads Britain's hopes of a home champion, BBC Sport takes a look at who else could challenge Alcaraz over the coming fortnight. Novak Djokovic - the history chaser Age: 38 Country: Serbia Ranking: 6 Strength: Defence Djokovic had won four Wimbledon titles in a row before losing a five-set thriller to Alcaraz in also swept Djokovic aside a year later to again deny the former world number one a record-equalling eighth men's continues to pursue an outright-record 25th major singles title since drawing level with Margaret Court at the 2023 US Open.A new era in men's tennis has dawned, with Alcaraz and Sinner sharing the past six slams between them - and seven of the past eight since Alcaraz's first Wimbledon title two years Djokovic, behind only Roger Federer for men's titles won at SW19, remains an ever-present threat on the sport's biggest stages - not least on grass - as he pursues yet another historic feat. Jannik Sinner - the world number one Age: 23 Country: Italy Ranking: 1 Strength: Precision Sinner was devastated by his loss to Alcaraz at Roland Garros, missing three championship points after taking a two-set lead in a five-and-a-half hour has reached at least the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in the past three years, with his best result a semi-final defeat by Djokovic in a surprise second-round loss to Alexander Bublik at the Halle Open this month cut short the world number one's has maintained his stranglehold on the top ranking for 12 months, despite serving a three-month doping suspension earlier this means he can only meet second seed Alcaraz in the final - something that would be eagerly anticipated after their Roland Garros thriller. Alexander Bublik - the unpredictable threat Age: 28 Country: Kazakhstan Ranking: 30 Strength: Drop shot Bublik's resurgence continues to gather Kazakh's career had stagnated to the point that he considered quitting tennis after losing in the Wimbledon third round last lost eight of his first 10 matches in 2025 as he fell to 82 the rankings, but his coach's suggestion of a "Hangover"-style reset in Las Vegas appears to have worked reaching his first major quarter-final with a superb run at the French Open, the unpredictable Bublik won the Halle Open to rise to 30th in the victory over Sinner was one of four wins over the top-eight seeds on his way to an emotional title triumph - proving that, on his day, he is a match for anyone. Daniil Medvedev - the nearly man Age: 29 Country: Russia Ranking: 9 Strength: Return A Wimbledon semi-finalist in each of the past two editions, can Medvedev take the next step this year?Medvedev is one of just five active men's players to win a major, having triumphed at the 2021 US Open - but he has lost his five other major former world number one is a hard-court specialist - his six major finals have been split between the Australian Open and US Open - but he has a solid recent record at was stopped by eventual champion Alcaraz in the last four in both 2023 and 2024, winning the first set in last year's meeting on Centre Court before being prepared for this year's tournament by reaching the Halle final, losing to Bublik in straight sets, and will expect another deep run at Wimbledon. Jiri Lehecka - the dark horse Age: 23 Country: Czech Republic Ranking: 25 Strength: Forehand Lehecka crashed the party at Queen's by beating Draper on route to the final, where he offered admirable resistance in a three-set loss to 23-year-old reached a career-high rank of 22 in February after winning his first eight matches of the year, clinching the Brisbane title before losing to Djokovic in the Australian Open fourth round.A run to the Madrid Open semi-finals last year - where he beat the great Rafael Nadal and Medvedev - was ended by an unfortunate back injury, which ultimately ruled him out of to full fitness this year, he demonstrated his grass-court pedigree at Queen's and will look to maintain that momentum to improve on his fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon in 2023.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Why not all NFL players are hyped for Olympic flag football
And that's how it's been portrayed throughout much of the media since it was decided NFL players will take part in the 2028 Olympics in flag football. This is a great thing. Players are jacked. Let's go kick some flag football butt, America! But what if players aren't actually all that excited to be flag football Olympians? There was a recent extremely under-reported remark from Bengals star receiver Ja'Marr Chase. He was asked about flag football and maybe spoke for more players than people want to acknowledge. "I don't know how I feel about it, if I'm being completely honest," Chase said, via WPCO's Marshall Kramsky. "I want to know the timing for us, offseason, in-season. I want to know if we're getting paid. I want to know where we traveling every other week or every day, like all that plays a part, because we have an offseason, we have a life. Also, how long would that be? I don't know. There's a lot of questions to it." Ja'Marr Chase has mixed feelings on if he would or wouldn't want to play in the Olympics. Chase has questions he wants answers to. Also Ja'Marr spoke about the respect he has for people who play and love flag football as opposed to the pro-NFL players. #Bengals @WCPO — Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) May 27, 2025 The key part of that quote: We have an offseason, we have a life. This doesn't mean that there are players who aren't excited about participating in the Olympics. There are and will be. It does mean there will be players who don't see the same level of excitement about it the league office and fans have. When Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked about Olympic flag football, he went all Roger Murtaugh from "Lethal Weapon:" "I'll probably leave that to the younger guys. I'll be a little older by the time that thing comes around." Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford just openly cracked up when asked about the Olympics. "You talking about coaching, or what?" he joked. Speaking of coaches, Denver's Sean Payton has been talked about as someone who could lead the team. On June 6 he asked about the possibility of coaching the flag team and he was, well, noncommittal. For now. "I don't want to answer questions in 2028 when I'm focused on Friday," Payton said, laughing. In part, what you're seeing, I believe, is that some players (and others) don't see flag football as a vital thing to do. Or at least not on the level of, say, Olympic basketball. The world had caught up to us in hoops (and even surpassed America) mandating the arrival of the Dream Team. Basketball was our game, not the world's, and we had to retake the sport from the clutches of others. Jalen Ramsey showing no mercy to Tyreek Hill at the Pro Bowl ???? ????: @NFL — NFL on CBS ???? (@NFLonCBS) February 5, 2023 That's not the case with flag football. There's no nationwide call to beat everyone in flag football. There's also no need for people to dive into this now. It's three years away. You also hear in Chase's remarks the union and labor part of this. Players know the NFL will find a way to make tons of cash off of this, and Chase, understandably, wants to make sure players get their share. I respect him for that. Again, others will get into the flag football groove. There's no question about that. "I feel like it's always an honor to play for your country," Falcons running back Bijon Robinson told Cory Muse of KVUE. "Like, you always want to play for your country. I would love to show my skillset on that type of stage. "So, I think it's going to come down to our schedule and where it lies, and if the teams even let us go. But I would love to play if given the opportunity. We'll see. I don't want it to affect my team and what we've got going here." "Yeah, I think it's great," Rams coach Sean McVay recently told reporters. "I think that is so far away from me. Coaching years are dog years, you know that. You hear Justin Jefferson come out and talk about, 'Man, that would be really cool.' That's awesome. Like I think you give guys the opportunity to say, 'Alright, well what's your preference on it?' And I think whatever our guys going to be the availability for maybe one guy on each team to be able to do that. Matthew Stafford had a hilarious response about playing flag football in the 2028 Olympics ???? (via @RamsNFL) — Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 29, 2025 "And if that's something that players say they want to be able to do, then I think it's a really cool experience for them to be able to be a part of while also acknowledging that man, there are some other guys that have been doing it. I'm not going to pretend to understand the nuances tactically and what that game entails, but I think it's good. I think it's great." There's definitely that sentiment out there. Still, there could be a lot more complexity to this flag football story than we know.
